\n<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka retired from the final of the Auckland Classic with an abdominal injury.<\/p>\n
The four-time Grand Slam winner, who was playing in her first WTA final for three years after taking a 15-month break and giving birth to her first child midway through 2023, took the opening set 6-4 against Denmark’s Clara Tauson.<\/p>\n
But the 27-year-old called for the physio at the changeover and stood and performed a series of stretches during a medical timeout.<\/p>\n
After consulting with the trainer she shook the hand of Tauson, who picked up a third career title and her first since 2021.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the WTA said Osaka retired “due to an abdominal injury”.<\/p>\n
“I just want to thank everyone for welcoming me to such a beautiful city and I had a lot of fun playing here and I’m really sorry about how it ended,” she said.<\/p>\n
“I hope you did enjoy the tennis that we did play and I’m just really grateful to be here.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n